Noman Mosharef :
The chicken market has been continuing to rise throughout the month and has gone almost beyond the purchasing capacity of the lower and the middle income group of people. The price increased by Tk 10 in last seven days, depriving the poor people of the main source of protein
The price of the boiler chicken rose to Tk 200 from Tk 185-190 per kg. On the other hand, Sonali Chicken (Popularly known as Pakistani cock) was selling at Tk 330-350 and Red Layer at Tk 220-230 per kg.
A buyer from Capital’s Rampura kitchen market, Hasibul Islam said in our capacity it is possible to eat meat twicewit family in a month. It is hard to think to buy beef or mutton by our like low income people. Only broiler chicken is the last option for us, but which has gone up beyond our capacity as now it is selling at Tk 200 seems we have to live without meat.
Hasibul, a consumer,, could not buy a broiler chicken last week, as it was selling at Tk 190 per kg. He failed again for the price rose further by 10 per kilo.
A rickshaw puller Md Salam was returning from Malibagh kitchen market disappointed.
Salam said I haven’t eaten meat for a long time. So I came to the market to buy a chicken. But the price of broiler chicken is also unusual. So I am going back without buying chicken.
“I have been buying beef and mutton for several years now,” he said. I got some pieces of beef during the last Eid-ul-Azha.
After that I have not eaten beef. Sometimes I buy broiler chicken. Now the price of broiler chicken has also gone up abnormally. It seems that meat is out of reach of poor people like us.
The other daily commodities are also being sold at high prices in the market. In the last week, the onion price decreased by Tk 10 and is being sold at Tk 60 to 70 (local) and sugar at Tk 80.
There are no vegetables except potato being sold below Tk 70 only. Contrarily, potato sells at Tk 20 in the market. Per kg chilly sells at Tk 160-200 only and the coarse rice at about Tk 50 only, Nazirshil at Tk 65-70, Minikate at Tk 60-65 and atash balam at Tk 55.
Golam Kibria Kama, a resident of Maniknagar said, we are tired of price-hike of the essential commodities. We want the government’s intervention for a relief.
On the other hand, eggs which were selling at Tk 36-40 last week has come down to Tk 36. The garlic is being sold at Tk 130-140 from the last week at Tk 125.
Edible oil is being sold at Tk 140-150 in grocery stores. Coarse pulses are being sold at Tk 95-100 and thin pulses at Tk 100-110.
Winter vegetables have started arriving at the market, but unable to pacify limited income group of people. Tomatoes are being sold at Tk 120 per kilo, and Chinese carrots at Tk 140-160.
Beans are being sold at Tk 100-120 and Luffa (jhinga) at Tk 50 only. One piece of small cauliflower and cabbage sells at Tk 50, Radish at at Tk 60, Bitter guard at Tk 70-80, snake gourd (chichinga) at Tk 60, purbal at Tk 60, Ladies finger at Tk 60 and barbati at Tk 80.
Vegetable sellers say there is no shortage of vegetable supply in the market. But the price is high. Retailers are being forced to sell at higher prices to cover greed..
There is no relief in the fish market. Rui is being sold at Tk250-280 per kg.,Pangas at Tk 100-140, large pabda at Tk 450-500, small tilapia at Tk 100-120, lobster at Tk 600-750 and horn fish at Tk 400-500 per kg. Small kachki fish is available for Tk 400 and Mola fish for Tk 300 per kg only.
